Tokyo - Day 4 - Hakone

Today, we woke up at 6am. We were supposed to wake up half an hour earlier but failed to. Jean pick up the phone, mumbled something and went back to sleep without telling me. We ate a quick breakfast and checked out. We packed 1 night's clothes into 2 smaller luggage and deposited the rest in the hotel. Then, we walked to Shinjuku station to board a train to Hakone. It was a 1 hour 50 minute ride and I slept most of the time.

After we reached, we changed to another train that would continue to take us to Hakone.It was smaller and went quite slowly through the winding and inclined track. he, we transferred to a rail that went diagonally upwards, straight up the mountain. We then arrived at Gora, which is 761m above sea level. We reached a cable car station. We took a cable car to Owakudani, 1044m above sea level. It was quite cold there, about 5 degrees celsius. There were geysers on the top and we went to walk around there. It smelled of rotten eggs because of the sulfur. But the smelliest geysers, to me, are the ones in Yellowstone Park (somewhere near the Gran Canyon). Near one of the geysers, there was a stall selling eggs that had been cooked in the geyser. We bought 1 packet (5 eggs) and ate them. They had black shells and looked horribly burn at first. But, never judge an egg by it's shell. The inside was good and it helped to warm our hands. Oh, it was really cold because we were dressed in clothes more suitable for 10+ degrees. But the temperature in Hanoke is almost always below 10, so pockets have become the hand's permanent residence.

After that, we went down by cable car. This time, the clouds had cleared and visibility was much better. The leaves were very colourful from on top. Then, we ate lunch. It's very high-tech. First, you go order the food at the counter. Then, go back to sit. When your food is ready, the electronic thing you are given beeps. No, not beep, it's the first bar of "Jingle Bells" theme over and over again. After eating, we out back the plates and trays etc. Highly unusual since the typical Singaporean is only required to on school grounds. Then, there's a cloth on the table so you can clean it yourself. Japanese are so responsible. Oh ya, there are hardly any trash bins around, but the ground is always very clean. Singapore has trash bins all over, and it's clean, just that we need a lot of cleaners. And the rare trash bins in Japan are usually quite tiny and specialised in a certain material (paper, plastic, cans, jie ying...).

Then, we took a cruise to a part of Hakone. Hakone is actually what's left of a volcano that blew it's top many years ago. There's a lake in the centre (Lake Ashi) and the surrounding "mountains" are the crater stuff. Before we boarded the cruise, there was this sign which read "Attention: I can not use one equal to or less than 8 years old or younger or 25kg". It was very cold and windy on the boat. Dad, Jean and I purposely went to the top deck to look out for Mt. Fuji. We managed to catch a bit of it. Then we went into this shop and I nearly died of laughing. On some of the display things:

1. I stewed the body and the egg of the fish.

I stewed the egg of the fish of a feeling of appetite which split open and the body of a soft tuna together. I am most suitable for an attendant of the rice.

Poor fish...

2. A Tuna and Cheese

I stewed wat tuna and cheese to chunks. Body of the cheese matches the taste of the tuna well.

3. Cheese and Bonito

I skewed the Bonito which did smoking with soy sauce. It is the delicious Bonito which it put melted cheese on.

4. The Egg of the Shihamo Smelt

It is an egg and the cheese of the Shihamo smelt of a feeling of appetite splitting open. The sharp taste that I worked for a little is characteristic.

Then we took a short cruise ride to our hotel (The Prince Hakone). We checked in. This time, we are stying in a family suite. We took a walk outside and there's a very good view of Mount Fuji. Right now, I'm typing this and my parents are out at a hot spring bath downstairs. I decided I didn't want to go because it's just off my Conservative limits.

Tomorrow:
Go back to main city, walk around and explore.